INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — “Shiver me timbers!” “Walk the plank!” “Arrg!” employees, volunteers and shoppers alike could be heard throughout Habitat for Humanity’s Home Center during their celebration of International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
First Mate Loralee Chastain, dressed head-to-toe in full Pirate regalia greeted unsuspecting shoppers looking to pick up a piece of furniture or decoration for their home.
“What’s a pirate’s favorite letter?” she quizzed fellow pirate Madeleine Kerns.
“R,” Kerns said.
“No, it’s C!” Chastain said, laughing at her joke. Kerns didn’t laugh, but rolled her eyes instead.
“It’s an excuse to have a sale and have some fun,” said Retail Manager John Sillesky, who declined to not don a pirate costume. “I’m a bah-hum-bugger.”
Vero Beach shopper Fran Mauldin came into the home center Saturday to peruse the wares, searching for a certain sized side table. She didn’t expect to come face-to-face with pirates.
“I just thought it was great,” Mauldin said, adding that she was amused by the interactions the staff and employees were having with customers. “It just is fun.”
Not familiar with International Talk Like a Pirate Day, Mauldin said she’d have to think of something piratey to say if she found something she wanted to buy.
Those who came out to the store and talked like a pirate received 10 percent off their purchase. Those dressed like a pirate got another 10 percent off.
Palm Bay residents Cami and Daniel Westfall brought their young son, James Dean, to the Habitat for Humanity Home Center to browse the hundreds of items. They’ve shopped at the center in Melbourne, which Cami said doesn’t have the amount of items to choose from like the Vero store.
“This place is awesome,” she said. “They have everything.”
The Westfalls weren’t quite sure what to make of the pirate-themed sale and joked they left their pirate hats at home.
“It’s cute,” Cami said of turning International Talk Like a Pirate Day into a sale. “It’s fun.”
Home Center Manager David Sneed explained that about four years ago the idea took root to recognize the day with a sale and fun.
Sneed said volunteer Jim Kerns shared with him that he and his cohorts used to recognize the day by dressing and talking as pirates.
“I thought, ‘how cool would that be!'” Sneed said. “I mean, we’re on the Treasure Coast, what a natural fit.”
Sneed said though pirates aren’t exactly known for their grace, Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has helped reshape their images into something more likeable today.
“If it helps us raise more money to build and renovate simple decent and affordable homes, then it is more precious than gold,” Sneed said. “Along the way, we can have lots of fun.”
For information about International Talk Like a Pirate Day, which is recognized on Sept. 19, visit www.TalkLikeAPirate.com.
